VALDOSTA — Strong pitching, defense, hitting and base running — the Vikettes gave the visiting Westlake Lions the full Lowndes softball experience Thursday at the Morris-Coates Field of Dreams.

No. 2 Lowndes swept a doubleheader against Westlake in two straight run-rule shortened games, 15-0 and 10-0, to advance to the second round of the GHSA Class 7A playoffs.

It only took eight innings for the Vikettes to cross home plate 25 times, and more impressively, prove the team can score runs in a variety of ways.

Lowndes exploded for 15 runs the three-inning Game 1 as six batters collected RBIs, led by Tori Hedgecock, who knocked four runs across on a three-home run and a double.

Madison May also homered in Game 1 as the Vikettes broke the home run record it set at 25 last season. Home runs by Haley Griffin and Rylin Hedgecock in Game 2 set the new mark at 29 and counting.

In Game 1, Rylan Hedgecock pitched three shutout innings to earn the win for Lowndes in dominant fashion, though it was how the Vikettes’ won Game 2 that bodes well for the team as they advance further into the postseason.

Lowndes got off to another quick start at the plate and loaded the bases in the first inning, but they were only able to push two runs across, despite some well-hit balls.

The theme continued throughout much of Game 2. Each inning the Vikettes put multiple runners on the base paths, but they couldn’t quite blow the game open.

Still, through savvy base running and the sheer depth of the Lowndes lineup, at least one run scored in each of the first four innings as the Vikettes built a 5-0 advantage.

But after some small ball, Lowndes got back to the long ball in the top of the fifth. Griffin led off the inning with a home run, and three batters later, Rylin Hedgecock deposited a ball over the field in right field with two runners on to push the lead to nine.

Following the three-run blast, Sophie Sumner doubled, took third base on a passed ball, and came home to score the game’s final run on Tori Hedgecock’s sacrifice fly.

“We hit some balls right at them, we didn’t take advantage at times, but then again, when we had two outs, we were able to scratch out a home run or two, and did some good things base running,” Lowndes coach Stewart Thomas said after the doubleheader. “Tagging up and advancing, tagging up and scoring on sac flys, those are the type of things we are going to have to do to win in the second round.

“It’s going to be an absolute war, no matter who we have. But I’ll tell you what, whoever comes down here, they better bring a lunch, because they’re going to get all they want too.”

Thomas also spoke about the issue opposing pitchers face against a lineup as deep as the Vikettes’ and as patient as they are no matter the count or situation.

“It’s frustrating, because you’re sitting out there thinking, ‘I’m one pitch away from getting out of this inning, and I’ve done pretty well so far,’ and next thing you know, the other team scratches off five hits in a row, that’s demoralizing,” he said. “That’s one of the many good things that we’ve done this year.”

Lowndes has been tremendous at the plate and on the base paths all season, and Thursday, another offensive outburst overshadowed what Thomas believes is the key to his team’s success thus far.

Three Vikette pitchers combined to throw eight shutout innings against the Lions, allowing just a single hit and striking out 19 batters.

Game 2 starter Rachel Wolverton struck out eight batters and allowed just two base runners over four innings when she hit a pair of Westlake batters in the foot in the bottom of the third inning. Lana Fletcher came on in the fifth and struck out the side in order to preserve the victory.

Thomas believes Lowndes will need all three pitchers it deployed against Westlake moving forward, and he trusts each of them to give their team a chance to win any given game.

“It’s going to take all three of them,” Thomas said. “If we’re going to get to where we want to get, which is ultimately a state title, all three of them are going to have to log innings. All three of them are going to have to do well, and they’ve done it all year long…

“As much as we hit it, set records, whatever you want to call it, the reason we’ve had the success we’ve had this year, is because of the success we’ve had in the circle and what we’re doing on defense.”

Lowndes will have to wait until Saturday to find out whether it’ll host North Paulding or Lassiter after the teams complete a decisive Game 3. The winner will travel to the Morris-Coates Field of Dreams on Wednesday.

Derrick Davis is the sports editor at the Valdosta Daily Times.